Photographic lighting assembly



Aus-631957 I R. T. GRQSZ 2,802,094

PHoToGRAPHrc LIGHTING ASSEMBLY' Filed Jan. 19, 195s 2 sheets-sheet 1VIII' m 5L ig/4411021051611- United States Patent Gfce 2,802,094Patented Aug. 6, 1957 PHOTOGRAPHIC LIGHTING ASSEMBLY Richard T. Grosz,Moorhead, Minn. Application January 19, 1953, serial No. 331,893

z claims. (ci. 24o-1.3)

This invention relates to photographic equipment. More particularly, itrelates to photographic lighting equipment for use by commercialphotographers in their studios. y

Commercial photographers spend a great deal of time and elfort inpositioning their subject as desired and then playing thephotographiclights upon the subjects features from a particular angle orangles to provide the desired effects. To attain these elfects it iscommon for a photographer to utilize a combination of several lights asa substitute for a single light for the reason that he cannot positioneither of his lights as desired. The lights he uses are ordinarilysupported from the floor of the studio and require considerablemanipulation, time and effort. My invention is designed to eliminatemanyof the diiculties encountered by a photographer heretofore.

It is a general object of my invention to provide a novel and improvedphotographic lighting assembly of cheap and simple construction andoperation.

` A more specific object is to provide a novel and improved photographiclighting assembly which for all practical purposes, gives quick, simpleand substantially universal movement of the light or lights supportedthereby to facilitate the positioning thereof.

A still more specific object is to provide a novel and improvedphotographic lighting assembly capable of supporting the light forpractical purposes at substantially any desired point across the room.

Another object is to provide a photographic lighting assembly capable ofsupporting lights at substantially any desired point across the room andhaving at the same time substantially universal tilting movement.

Another object is to provide a photographic lighting assembly which willsubstantially reduce the amount of time and effort required to properlyposition photographic lights in order to obtain desired effects.

Another object is to provide a novel and improved photographic lightingassembly using conventional photographers lights mounted so as to becapable of universal movement in combination with a spotlight mountedthereupon and capable of movement longitudinally thereof. p

Another object is to provide a photographic lighting assembly capable ofbeing vertically adjusted more quickly and easily than herebefore.

Another object is to provide a photographic lighting assembly suspendedfrom the ceiling in an out-of-way position and capable of being moved toalmost any point within the room and of being adjusted universallythereat.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will more fullyappear from the following description made in connection with theaccompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to thesame or similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View of one embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 4--4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a detailed fragmentary sectional View on an enlarged scale ofthe mounting for the upper end of the vertical screw;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the lower portion of the lighting assemblytaken approximately along line 6-6 of Fig. l; and Y Fig. 7 is afragmentary sectional view taken along line 7 7 of Fig. 6 and showingthe worm gear for tilting the lights. f

One embodiment of my invention is shown in Figs. 147 supported from anoverhead member such as a ceiling 10 by lag bolts 11 and supportingbolts 12 having inwardly extending ears 13 welded thereto and mayinclude a circular track 14 welded to the supporting ears 13. Thiscircular track will preferably be approximately 12 feet in diameter orslightly less than the smallest dimension of the room taken in ahorizontal plane. Movably mounted on the circular track 14 in suspendedrelation is a straight track indicated generally as 15 which iscomprisedof a pair of elongated channel members 16 and 17 carrying endplates 18 and 19 at their opposite ends. This straight track 15 issupported from the circular track 14 by two pairs of rollers 20, 21 and22, 23. These rollers, as best shown in Fig. 4, are rotatably mounted inthe upper end portionspof supporting posts such as 24, 25 the lower endportions of which are welded to the channel members 16 and 17. Thechannels 16 and 17 are each provided with a pair of stabilizing rods 26,27 and 28, 29, these rods being pivotally mounted at their inner endsupon a pivot rod 30 and being Welded at their outer ends to therespective channels just inwardly of the -circular track as can best beseen in Figs. 2 and 4. The length of the straight track 15 is preferablyabout l5 feet, or, longer than the diameter of the circular track 14. Ascan best be seen in Fig. 2, the straight track is mounted to extendalong the diameter of the circular track and to pivot or swing aroundthe length 0f the circular track and about the center of the circle.

Movably supported in the channels 16 and 17 of the straight track 15 bymeans of four rollers 31, is a supporting disc or member 32 which has adownwardly and inwardly extending flange 33, this flange forming aguideway to support an upwardly facing saucer-like disc 34 which has anoutwardly extending flange 35 which rides within the guide way formed bythe flange 33 and engages the same. The disc 34 is capable of rotatingfreely within the guideway formed by the flange 33 and is supportedthereby.

Rotatably mounted upon the disc 34 for free rotation about itslongitudinal axis is an elevating screw 36, the upper end portion ofthis screw being mounted on tapered roller bearings 37 to facilitate thefree turning movement thereof. This elevating screw 36 depends from thedisc 34 as best shown in Figs. l and 4, and serves in cooperation with agear mechanism to be hereinafter described to adjust the elevation ofthe lighting assembly.

Fixedly secured to the bottom of the disc 34 and depending therefrom isa U-shaped guide channel 38. This guide channel is rigid and extendsdownwardly a substantial distance from the disc 34. Its cross-sectionalshape can best be seen in Fig. 6. Secured to the lower end of the guidechannel 38 is a platform 39, the lower end portion of the elevatingscrew 36 being journaled therein for free rotational movement about itslongitudinal axis. Mounted on the upper surface of the platform 39 is areversible motor 40 and a gear box 41 the two being connected by a drivebelt 42. A shaft 43 depends from the gear box and is connected by achain 44 with the lower end of the elevator screw 36 which has a gear 45secured thereto. In this manner, the reversible motor 40 can rotate theelevating screw 36 about its longitudinal axis at will and in eitherdirection. h

Mounted on the elevating screw 36 in threadedly engaging relation is ahead 46, the elevating screw extending through the head and beingthreaded thereinto so that as the elevating screw is turned the headwill progress upwardly or downwardly relative thereto, depending uponthe direction of rotation. This head is secured by bolts 47 to aU-shaped encasing member 48 which completely encircles the guide channel38 as best shown in Fig. 6,. Thus it can be seen that the encasingmember 48 prevents the head 46 from rotating with the elevating screw 36thereby causing the head to move upwardly and down-l wardly as theelevating screw rotates.

Rigidly mounted on the forward surface of the head 46 and securedthereto by bolts 49, is an elongated supporting member indicatedgenerally as `50. This supporting member 50 is comprised of a shaft 51having a shoulder 52 adjacent one of its ends and a ange 53 of diametergreater than the shoulder 52 at the extreme end. The bolts 49 passthrough the flange 53 so that the ange acts as a supporting shoulder orflange for the entire support 50.

A nut 54 secures to the shaft 51 a bifurcated member 55 as best shown inFig. 6. A bushing 56 insures that p the member 55 can rotate freelyabout the longitudinal axis of the shaft 51. This bifurcated member 55has a worm gear or driven element 57 formed on the outer peripheralsurface of its inner end, this gear cooperating with a verticallyextending worm or driving element 58 which is supported by a pair ofoutwardly extending support ears 59 which in turn are rigidly secured tothe support member 50 as best shown in Fig. 6. The worm 58 has adepending crank portion 58a by which the worm 58 may be turned tocausethe worm gear 57 to turn the bifurcated member 55 about the longitudinalaxis of the shaft 51.

Fixedly mounted upon the outer surface of the bifurcated member 55adjacent the gear 57 is a pair of outwardly extending support ears 60and 61. These support ears carry a second worm or driving element 62with a rotatably mounted on the side of the bifurcated member` 55 andrigidly connected by rigid linkage 65 to a U-shaped support bracket 66.This U-shaped support bracket is pivotally mounted upon the bifurcatedends 55a and 55b of the bifurcated member 55 as best shown in Fig. 6, sothat it may swing in a vertical plane about the horizontal axis of apivot bolt 67 extending between the ends of the bifurcated member 55.

Fixedly secured to the U-shaped support bracket 66 and extendingoutwardly therefrom in a substantially vertical plane is a light unitindicated generally as 68. This light unit, as best shown in Fig. 2, iselongated and has a plurality of fluorescent lights such as 69 therein.lt also has a plurality of vertical shutters 70 which extend forwardlyahead of the lights 69.

Mounted on the upper and outer surface of the light unit 68 by means ofa channeled track 71 is a `spotlight 72, this spotlightlbeing capable ofbeing slidlongitudinally of the lighting unit 68 and throughout thelength thereof.

In use, the circular track 14 is mounted in depending relation upon theceiling of a photographers studio, the diameter of the track beingslightly less than the width of the room. The straight track is slightlylonger than the diameterof the circular track and can be swungabout thecenter of the track at any angle desired, the ends of the straight trackextending slightly outwardly beyond'the circular track. The supportingdisc 34 can be moved anywhere along the `length of `the kstraight track15 .by means of the rollers 31 and since the straight track can berotated anywhere within a 360 are about the center of the circle, it ispossible for the circular disc to be positioned at any desired pointwithin a circle described by the outer ends of the straight track 15.This means that the light unit 68 may be positioned in a horizontalplane at any point within that area.

The elevation of the light unit 68 can be regulated as desired bycontrolling the motor 40. When the motor is operated, the head 46 iscaused to raise or lower, depending upon the direction of rotation ofthe elevating screw 36 and then carries the lighting unit with it, theentire movement being guided by the guide `channel 38 in combinationwith the head 46 and the encasing member 48. Thus it can be vseen thatthe lighting unit 68 can be positioned by means of the structure justdescribed at any point within a circle described by the outer ends ofthe straight track 15 and within the length of the elevating Screw.3.6.- Ttls range of elevation vis governed solely .by the length of theelevating Screw 36 BY means Of the, Worms-58 and 62 with theircooperating worm gears 57 and 64, universal tilting movement `of `thelighting unit is accomplished. YIt can be readily seen that bycontrolling the crank shaft portion 58g the Worm 5,8 can be turned tocause the lighting unit .68 to rotate about the horizontal axis of theshaft 51 within a 360 arc. By operating the worm 62 the lighting unit 68may be readily pivoted labout a horizontal axis transverse to the 33.159i the shaft 51 and within a suicisntly large `arg: to ngeetall of theneeds of a photographer. In addition to this tilting movement o f whichthe unit is capable and which is for all practical purposes universal,the photographer may position the spotlight 72 `as desired anywhere'along the length of the lighting unit 6 8. Thus it can be seen thatsubstantially `universal positioning of thel spotlight 72 is alsopossible.

When using my photographic lighting assembly Vit possible to obtainlight positioning which heretofore has been impossible without utilizinga large number of individual lights. With my lighting assembly it ispossible to position lights so as to obtain optimum lighting effects andthis is all accomplished by a single photographer from substantially asingle position within the room without l requiring repeated trips backand forth to the variously positioned lights in order to adjust the sameas has been heretofore the custom. It can be readily seen that a greatdeal of time and effort can be saved through the use of my lightingassembly and that in addition to 4this saving, a much more practical andefficient lighting can be attained.

It should b e 4noted that through the use of my photographic lightingassembly, the photographer need not worry about `a large number oflights and props cluttering up the photographers studio. All of theequipment is suspended from the ceiling and can be elevated `to aposition substantially adjacent thereto so that it is Aentirely outofthe way when not needed. It can be readily seen that such a lightingassembly is highly desirable froma standpoint of appearance of thestudio as well as practicality.

It should also Abe lnoted that my photographic `lighting assembly can bereadily adjusted vertically more quickly and easily than has heretoforebeen possible with photographers lights. There is little if any elortinvolved `in adjusting the elevation of this lighting assembly and by afew manipulations the desired elevation and tilt of `the lighting unit68 can be attained. A

It will of course be understood that various changes may be made `in theform, details, arrangement and proportions of the various parts withoutdeparting from the scope of my invention. i i

What is claimed is:

l. A photographic lighting assembly for suspending a light from theceiling of a room wherein photographs are taken, said assemblycomprising a circular guideway adapted to be secured to the ceiling ofsuch a room, an elongated straight guideway having a length at leastequal to the diameter of said circular track, mechanism movably mountingsaid straight guideway on said circular guideway at opposite sides ofthe latter and in suspended relation and constructed and arranged topermit said straight guideway to be swung about a 360 arc in ahorizontal plane, a vertically extending guideway movably mounted onsaid straight guideway and depending therefrom, a motor supported by thelower end portions of said vertically extending guideway, an elongatedscrew member journalled on said vertically extending guideway andextending along the length thereof, a gear connected to said motor indriven relation and drivably connected with said screw to rotate thesame about its longitudinal axis, a head mounted on said screw inthreaded relation, said head being driven vertically by rotation of saidscrew about its longitudinal axis, and a light-supporting structurecarried by said head and movable vertically therewith when said head isdriven by said screw as a result of rotation of said gear by said motor.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 wherein said lightsupportingstructure includes worm-gear-driving mechanism for rotating portions ofsaid structure 360 about '3 a horizontal axis and for rotating otherportions of said structure about a horizontal axis extendingtransversely to said first mentioned axis.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 507,364Hiler Oct. 24, 1893 1,596,371 Nirdlinger Aug. 17, 1926 1,686,452 HoeerOct. 2, 1928 1,834,428 Seitz Dec. 1, 1931 2,114,664 Gelb Apr. 19, 19382,171,028 Gelb Aug. 29, 1939 2,217,533 Wolarsky Oct. 8, 1940 2,243,788Benard May 27, 1941 2,249,610 James et al. July 15, 1941 2,243,788Benard May 27, 1941 2,675,462 Newton Apr. 13, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS18,681 Great Britain June 26, 1897 86,645 Switzerland Jan. 17, 1921859,731 Germany Dec. 15, 1952

